The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Bigotry in U.S.

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Saturday, Mar 29, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Bigotry in U.S.

This refers to the article “Bigotry in the land of freedom” (March 28) which catalogues the slanderous comments that have appeared in the U.S. media against the prospective Democratic Party candidates. It has exposed the low level to which the American media have stooped. Their gender, racial and religious prejudices have come to the fore. There is no doubt that the Indian record shines by comparison.

K.D. Viswanaathan,

Coimbatore

* * *

The article on the American media coverage of the keenly contested election between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, one a woman and the other a black, was excellent. The American obsession with Ms Clinton’s gender and Mr. Obama’s Muslim middle name does indeed stand in stark contrast to the Indian media’s coverage of similar circumstances. However, the article ignores two key factors: that the U.S. is a nation at war and much as the Americans publicly denounce it, racial and religious profiling is a subliminal fact of life.

The second and most important is that through such coverage and debate, the American society is integrating itself into a homogeneous entity. One wishes there was more vigorous and open debate on caste and religious diversities in India. The Indian society is culturally more splintered on religious, caste, and linguistic lines than any other society in the world.

Umakantha Sarma Anumula,

Plano, Texas

True, in terms of protocol and stature, the U.S. President and the Indian President are equals. But the comparison between an executive office and a ceremonial office does not convey much. Only when a Dalit, a Tribal, a Christian or a Muslim becomes the Prime Minister of India, can India shine by comparison.

Rev. Philip K. Mulley,

Coonoor

* * *

The article has ventured to compare apples with oranges. India may be bound to the U.S. by the thread of democracy but the similarity ends there. America was never ruled by Muslims. The thought of a Muslim President may therefore not be widely acceptable to Americans.

Having said that, it must be pointed out that the credit for India having a woman or Muslim President does not go to its people. Only when the elections are direct, will it be possible to say whether the people’s prejudices come to the fore or not.

Ram Yeggina,

Hyderabad

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